The cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) is a common laboratory instrument that provides accurate time and amplitude measurements of voltage
signals over a wide
range of frequencies. Its reliability, stability, and ease of operation makes it suitable as a general purpose laboratory instrument. Figure shows the basic block
diagram of a general purpose CR oscilloscope.
A general purpose oscilloscope consists of the following parts:
1. Cathode ray tube
2. Vertical amplifier
3. Delay line
4. Time base generator
5. Horizontal amplifier
6. Trigger circuit
7. Power supply
Cathode Ray Tube - It is the heart of the oscilloscope. When the electrons emitted by the electron gun strikes the phosphor screen, a visual signal is displayed on
the CRT.
Vertical Amplifier - The input signals are amplified by the vertical amplifier. Usually, the vertical amplifier is a wide band amplifier which passes the entire band of
frequencies.
Delay Line - As the name suggests, this circuit is used to delay the signal for a period of time in the vertical section of CRT. The input signal is not applied directly
to the vertical plates because the part of the signal gets lost, when the delay time is not used. Therefore, the input signal is delayed by a period of time.
Time Base (Sweep) Generator - Time base circuit uses a uni-junction transistor, which is used to produce the sweep. The saw tooth voltage produced by the
time base circuit is required to deflect the beam in the horizontal section. The spot is deflected by the saw tooth voltage at a constant time dependent rate.
Horizontal Amplifier - The saw tooth voltage produced by the time base circuit is amplified by the horizontal amplifier before it is applied to horizontal deflection
plates.
Trigger Circuit - The signals which are used to activate the trigger circuit are converted to trigger pulses for the precision sweep operation whose amplitude is
uniform. Hence input signal and the sweep frequency can be synchronized.
Power supply - The voltages required by CRT, horizontal amplifier, and vertical amplifier are provided by the power supply block. It is classified into two types -
(1) Negative high voltage supply
(2) Positive low voltage supply
The voltage of negative high voltage supply is from -1000V to -1500V. The range of positive voltage supply is from 300V to 400V.
Functioning –
The cathode ray is a beam of electrons which are emitted by the heated cathode (negative electrode) and accelerated toward the fluorescent screen.
The assembly of the cathode, intensity grid, focus grid, and accelerating anode (positive electrode) is called an electron gun
Its purpose is to generate the electron beam and control its intensity and focus. Between the electron gun and the fluorescent screen are two pair of
metal plates - one oriented to provide horizontal deflection of the beam and one pair oriented to give vertical deflection to the beam. These plates are
thus referred to as the horizontal and vertical deflection plates
The combination of these two deflections allows the beam to reach any portion of the fluorescent screen. Wherever the electron beam hits the screen,
the phosphor is excited and light is emitted from that point. This conversion of electron energy into light allows us to write with points or lines of light on
an otherwise darkened screen
The linear deflection or sweep of the beam horizontally is accomplished by use of a sweep generator that is incorporated in the oscilloscope circuitry.
In the most common use of the oscilloscope, the signal to be studied is first amplified and then applied to the vertical (deflection) plates to deflect the
beam vertically, and at the same time, a voltage that increases linearly with time is applied to the horizontal (deflection) plates, thus causing the beam
to be deflected horizontally at a uniform rate
The signal applied to the vertical plates is thus displayed on the screen as a function of time. The horizontal axis serves as a uniform time scale
Role of sweep in CRO –
The sweep, also known as saw tooth pulse, is required to deflect the beam in the horizontal section
To obtain steady traces on the tube face, an internal number of cycles of the unknown signal must be associated with each cycle of the sweep
generator. Thus, with such a matching of synchronization of the two deflections, the pattern on the tube face repeats itself and hence appears to
remain stationary
The persistence of vision of the human eye and of the glow of the fluorescent screen aids in producing a stationary pattern
In simple words, the sweep is the horizontal speed of the cathode ray tube’s spot which is used to create a trace. This ensures that the signal being
tested is locked on the screen and does not drift.
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)
Definition: Cathode ray tube, CRT is the heart of CRO which generates images when electron beam from the back of the tube strikes the fluorescent
screen with sufficient energy. CRT technique was basically employed in conventional TV and computer screens.
Constructional details of Cathode Ray Tube
CRT consist of the following parts:
1. Electron gun
2. Deflection plate assembly
3. Glass envelope
4. Fluorescent screen
5. Base, for connections
The diagram given below shows the internal structure of the CRT
A sharply focused beam is produced by the electron gun assembly. This high-velocity beam strikes the fluorescent screen thus causing a luminous
spot on the screen.
The two electrostatic deflection plates deflect the accelerated beam by the application of voltage. This applied voltage enable the beam to move
vertically up – down and horizontally from an end to other.
The two movements are not dependent on each other that causes the beam to be arranged anywhere on the screen.
CRT parts are confined in a glass envelope in order to permit free movement of the electron from an end to the other.
Working of Cathode Ray Tube
The main parts of CRT are responsible for the working of it that is explained below-
Electron gun
The electron gun is the originator of focused accelerated electron beam. It consists of a heater, a cathode, pre-accelerating anode, accelerating
anode which emits electrons and forms them into a beam.
The cathode is heated indirectly from which electrons are emitted. To obtain high emission of electrons at a moderate temperature a layer of barium
and strontium oxide is deposited at the end of the cathode.
An indirectly heated cathode requires current and voltage value 600 mA at 6.3 V. In the case of a highly efficient system the value is 300 mA at 6.3 V.
The emitted electrons further pass through a small hole present in the control grid. The control grid is basically a nickel cylinder of aperture 0.5. It is a
low permeability steel material. The intensity by which beam of electron moves depends entirely on the electron emitted from the cathode. The number
of electrons emitted from the cathode is controlled by the grid.
A positive high potential is applied at the pre-accelerating anode by which the beam gets accelerated. This high positive potential is about 1500
V. Focusing anode helps in focusing the electron beam and is connected with a lower adjustable voltage of about 500 V.
The highly focused beam moves towards vertical and horizontal deflection plates after which it reaches to fluorescent screen.